Direct and Indirect speech

Direct and Indirect speech!

Reporting and Reported Speech

When a person reports a speech, a statement, an order, etc. of another person, the words uttered by the first person are called the reporting speech, and the speech, the statement, or the order of the other person is called the reported speech.

Example:

Reporting speech———————————Jokey said,

Reported speech———————————-“I do not eat mangoes”

Jokey said, “I do not eat mangoes”

There are two ways to report a speech:

Reproduce the words actually used by the speaker in inverted commas. (Direct Narration)

Give a substance of the speech in the words of the reporter. (Indirect Narration)

Examples:

Direct Speech: She says, “I am a little bit nervous.”

Indirect Speech: She says that she is a little bit nervous.

NOTE: In the first sentence, the reporter conveys the message of the girl using her actual words (e.g., “I am a little bit nervous.”) In the second sentence, the reporter conveys her message but in his own words without any change in the meaning. So in both the ways we have discussed (about reporting a speech) both are conveying someone’s message.

Rules for Changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Rule 1:

When the reporting verb is in the present, present perfect, or future tense, the verb of the reported speech remains unchanged. We do sometimes change the personal pronouns and add the conjunction ‘that’.

Examples:

Direct: She says, “This is not correct”.

Indirect: She says that this is not correct.

Rule 2:

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the present or future tense in the reported speech changes into a past tense, and present perfect or past tense into past perfect tense. Pronouns change according to the sense of the report.

Example:

Direct: He said, “she has finished her work.”

Indirect: He said that she had finished her work.

Direct: She said, “I met him last year.”

Indirect: she said that she had met him the previous year.

Note: When, however, the reporting speech states a universal truth, the present tense in the reported speech remains unchanged in the indirect form of narration.

Rule 3:

when the reported speech is an interrogative sentence starting with question words, the reporting verb changes into enquiring, ask, wonder, or some other appropriate verb. The question word remains unchanged in the reported speech. Tense changes in the reported speech are the same as for statements when the reporting verb is in the past tense.

Examples:

Direct: The teacher said, “why are you so late”

Indirect: The teacher asked why he was so late.

Direct: He said, “when are you so exciting your second child.”

Indirect: He inquired when she was so excepting her second child.

Rule 4:

when the reported speech is an interrogative sentence made by putting the helping verb before the subject, we use “weather” or “if” to join it to the appropriate reporting verb. Usual tense changes take place in the reporting verb. Is in the past tense.

Examples:

Direct: He said to her, “Are you leaving today?”

Indirect: He enquired of her whether she was leaving that day.

Direct: She said, “Did you take part in the competition.

Indirect: she asked her whether she had taken part in the competition.

Rule 5:

Imperative become an infinitive in the reported speech and the reporting verb changes to tell, ask, order, etc.

Examples

Direct: He said to his servant, “leave the room at once”

Indirect: He ordered his servant to leave the room at once.

Rule 6:

When let occurs in the direct speech, it is changed into the indirect form according to the sense it conveys.

Example:

Direct: Arshad said, “Let him go.”

Indirect: Arshad said that he might be allowed to go.

Rule 7:

Must is used:

(1) sometimes as true present tense.

(2) sometimes as future tense.

(3) sometimes as a rule or a regulation.

As true present tense, ‘must’ changes into past tense in the indirect form of narration:

Direct: He said, “I must do it now.”

Indirect: He said that he must do it at once.

As future tense, ‘must’ changes into past perfect tense in the indirect form of narration:

Direct: He said, “I must go again next week.”

Indirect: He said that he would have to go again next week.

As a rule, or regulation, ‘must’ behaves like a universal truth and is treated like that in the indirect form of narration:

Direct: He said, “You must take your shoes off before entering a mosque.”

Indirect: He said that he must take his shoes off before entering a mosque.

Rule 8:

If a wish or a prayer is expressed in the reported speech, the reporting verb is changed into a wish or pray or some other appropriate verb.

Direct: He said to me, “May you live long!”

Indirect: He wished that I might live long!

Rule no 9:

An adjective or adverb denoting nearness, in the direct speech, is changed into one denoting distance, in the indirect form of narration. (The reader must have noted it in the examples and exercises already done).

Examples:

Now into then.	Today into that day.
This into that.	Tomorrow into next day.
Hither into thither.	Yesterday into the previous day.
Here into there.	Last night into the previous night.
Hence into thence.	Ago into before.
Come into go.	Now into then.

Speech Table

Direct and Indirect speech

words	will change into	Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Good Morning, Good evening, Good Day	Greeted	He said, “ Good morning, sir!”	He greeted me respectfully.
Tomorrow	Next-day/Following day	She said, “ I will not go to school tomorrow.”	She said that she will not go to school the next day.
Today	That day	She said to me, “Tell me the truth today.”	She advised me to tell her the truth that day.
Sir	Respectfully	Tom said, “Sir, is Jerry at home?’	Tom said respectfully if Jerry was at home.
Madam	Respectfully	Tom said, “Madam, is Jerry at home?’	Tom said, “Sir, is Jerry at home?’
This	That	He said to her, “ I live in this building.”	He told her that he lived in that building.
These	Those	He says, “ He wants to buy these Computers.”	He said that he wants to buy those computers.
Now	Then	I said to my servant. “Post this letter now,”	I ordered my servant to post that letter then.
Yesterday	The previous day	She said, “ I did not go to school yesterday”	She said that she had not gone to school the previous day.
Tonight	That night	She said, “I am going to see him tonight.”	She said that she was going to see him that night.
an hour before	an hour ago	He said, “ I have completed my drawing half an hour ago.”	He said that he had completed his drawing half an hour before.
Here	There	She said, “Everybody was here.”	She said that everybody was there.
Last Night	Previous night	He said, “ She sang a beautiful song at the concert last night”	He said that she sang a beautiful song at the concert the previous night.

Direct and Indirect speech Table:

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

Direct	They said, “we have done our duty.”
Indirect	They said that they had done their duty.
Direct	The teacher said to us, “you have not completed your drawing.”
Indirect	The teacher told us that we had not completed our drawing.
Direct	She said, “They have not eaten their meals.”
Indirect	She said that they had not eaten their meals.
Direct	The teacher said, “I have often told you not to play with fire.”
Indirect	The teacher said that he had often told me not to play with fire.
Direct	The brother said to me, “you have missed the point completely.”
Indirect	The brother told me that I had missed the point completely.
Direct	He said, “I complete my drawing half an hour ago.”
Indirect	He said that he had completed his drawing half an hour before.
Direct	She said, “I did not go to school yesterday.”
Indirect	She said that she had not gone to school the previous day.
Direct	He said, “she sang a beautiful ‘song’ at the concert last night.”
Indirect	He said that she had sung a beautiful ‘song’ at the concert the previous night.
Direct	She said, “he rang me up at twelve midnight.”
Indirect	She said that he had rung her up at twelve midnight.
Direct	He said, “the boy did not put up a good show last night.”
Indirect	He said that the boys had not put up a good show the previous night.

List 2

Direct	She said, “I shall never do such a thing.”
Indirect	She said that she would never do such a thing.
Direct	Ali said, “they will wait for us for an hour only.”
Indirect	Ali said that they would wait for them for an hour only.
Direct	They said, “We shall never make a promise we cannot fulfill.”
Indirect	They said that they would never make a promise they could not fulfill.
Direct	He said, “I shall explain this to you only if you listen to me with patience.”
Indirect	He said that he would explain that to me only if I listened to him with patience.
Direct	He said, “I hope you will not repeat this mistake.”
Indirect	He said that he hoped I would not repeat that mistake.
Direct	He said, “will you listen to me?”
Indirect	He asked whether I would listen to him.
Direct	She said, “Are you going to Lahore today?”
Indirect	She asked whether I was going to Lahore that day.
Direct	He said, “Do you agree with me?”
Indirect	He asked whether I agreed with him.
Direct	He said to me, “what are you looking for?”
Indirect	He asked me what I was looking for.
Direct	She said, “where do you live?”

List 3

Indirect	She asked where I lived.
Direct	He said, “how many chapters have you already done?”
Indirect	He asked how many chapters I had already done.
Direct	She said, “is this your book?”
Indirect	She asked if that was my book.
Direct	He said, “Do you have any share in this firm?”
Indirect	He asked if I had any share in that firm.
Direct	They said, “have you ever visited the Murree Hills?”
Indirect	They asked if I had ever visited the Murree Hills.
Direct	He said, “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”
Indirect	He asked if I was not ashamed of myself.
Direct	The teacher said, “Did you do your home task yesterday?”
Indirect	The teacher asked if I had done my home task the previous day.
Direct	The mother said, “Didn’t I ask you not to go there?”
Indirect	The mother asked if she had not asked me not to go there.
Direct	Riana said, “will you stop interfering in my work?”
Indirect	Riana asked me if I would stop interfering in her work.
Direct	The mother said, “shall we invite the Qureshi’s also?”
Indirect	The mother asked if they would invite the Qureshi’s also.

List 4

Direct	Ali said, “Had you left Hawaii before writing this letter?”
Indirect	Ali asked if I had left Hawaii before writing that letter.
Direct	The judge said, “have anything more to say?”
Indirect	The judge asked if I had anything more to say.
Direct	He said, “what do you want me to do?”
Indirect	He asked what I wanted h to do.
Direct	The mother said, “how did you fail in your examination?”
Indirect	The mother asked how I had failed in my explanation.
Direct	Raza said, “where are you going?”
Indirect	Raza asked where I was going.
Direct	The teacher said, “whose book is this?”
Indirect	The teacher asked whose book that was.
Direct	The teacher said, “who is the author of this book?”
Indirect	The teacher asked who the author of that book was.
Direct	The stranger said, “which is the way to the Gardens?”
Indirect	The stranger asked which way to the gardens was.
Direct	The manager said, “how do you propose to solve this problem”?
Indirect	The manager asked how I proposed to solve that problem.
Direct	The boy said, “what do you want me to do?”
Indirect	The boy asked what I wanted him to do.

List 5

Direct	The pupil said, “where have I eased?”
Indirect	The pupil asked where he had eased.
Direct	The teacher said, “who is the next on the list?”
Indirect	The teacher asked who the next on the list was.
Direct	The referee said, “Quiet, please.”
Indirect	The referee requested the spectators to be quiet.
Direct	The teacher said, “Do not make a noise.”
Indirect	The teacher asked the student not to make a noise.
Direct	She said to me, “tell the truth.”
Indirect	She advised me to tell the truth.
Direct	She said to me, “please lend me your camera for a day.”
Indirect	She requested me to lend her my camera for a day.
Direct	Ali said, “let us finish our work first.”
Indirect	Ali proposed that they should finish their work first.
Direct	He said to his sister, “please say something”.
Indirect	He requested his sister to say something.
Direct	She said to her friends, “please have dinner with me tomorrow at eight.”
Indirect	She requested her friend to have dinner with her the next day at eight.
Direct	The judge said, “call the next witness.”
Indirect	The judge ordered the peon to call the next witness.

List 6

Direct	Ali said to his uncle, “please help me in getting some job.”
Indirect	Ali requested his uncle to help him in getting some job.
Direct	The doctor said the patient, “take complete rest and follow my direction.”
Indirect	The doctor advised the patient to take complete rest and follow his direction.
Direct	The teacher said to the pupil, “read the paragraph and explain it in simple English.”
Indirect	The teacher asked the pupil to read the paragraph and explain that in simple English.
Direct	The mother said to the daughter, “please tidy up your room.”
Indirect	The mother advised her daughter to tidy up her room.
Direct	She said to me, “Do not waste your time in idle talk.”
Indirect	She advised me not to waste my time in idle talk.
Direct	The father said to his son, “get up early in the morning and go for a walk.”
Indirect	The father advised his son to get up early in the morning and go for a walk.
Direct	Ali said, “let us go for a picnic on Friday.”
Indirect	Ali suggested that they should go for a picnic on Friday.
Direct	He said to his friend, “please lend me your bike for a day.”
Indirect	He requested his friend to lend him his bike for a day.
Direct	He said to her, “please fetch me a glass of water.”
Indirect	He requested her to fetch him a glass of water.
Direct	The master said to the servant, “Go and fetch me a glass of milk.”
Indirect	The master ordered the servant to go and fetch him a glass of milk.

List 7

Direct	The father said to his son, “Do not leave this room without my permission.”
Indirect	The father asked his son not to leave that room without his permission.
Direct	She said to them, “let us not deceive ourselves.”
Indirect	She suggested that they should not deceive themselves.
Direct	He said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.”
Indirect	He exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
Direct	He said, “Alas! I am ruined.”
Indirect	He exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.
Direct	He said, “may Allah help me do my duty!”
Indirect	He prayed that Allah might help him do his duty.
Direct	She said to her father, “may you live long!”
Indirect	She prayed for her father that he might live long.
Direct	She said, “May you prosper!”
Indirect	She prayed that I might prosper.
Direct	The mother said to her daughter, “May Allah bless you with a son!”
Indirect	The mother prayed for her daughter that Allah might bless her with a son.
Direct	She said, “would that my father was alive!”
Indirect	She wished that her father had been alive.
Direct	The mother said to her son, “may you return successfully!”
Indirect	The mother prayed for her son that he might return successfully.

List 8

Direct	She said, “what a beautiful piece of art!”
Indirect	She exclaimed with wonder that it was a beautiful piece of art.
Direct	He said, “How well she sings!”
Indirect	He exclaimed with wonder that she sang very well.
Direct	He said, “Alas! We cannot defeat our enemies.”
Indirect	He exclaimed with sorrow that they could not defeat their enemies.
Direct	She said, “what a pity you missed that function!”
Indirect	She exclaimed with sorrow that I had missed that function.
Direct	He said, “Hurrah! I have won the medal.”
Indirect	He exclaimed with joy that he had won the medal.
Direct	She says, “I hope I am not late.”
Indirect	She says that she hopes she is not late.
Direct	He says, ‘I want to speak to you.”
Indirect	He says that he wants to speak to me.
Direct	You have said, “They are waiting outside.”
Indirect	You have said that they are waiting outside.
Direct	You will say, “she is cranky.”
Indirect	You will say that she is cranky.
Direct	They say, “we have done our duty.”
Indirect	They say that they have done their duty.

List 9

Direct	She says, “we have shifted to another house.”
Indirect	She says that they have shifted to another house.
Direct	The teacher will say, “you have done your work very well.”
Indirect	The teacher will say that I have done my work very well.
Direct	He says, “she has written me a very encouraging letter.”
Indirect	She says that she has written him a very encouraging letter.
Direct	She says, “We love and respect our neighbors very much.”
Indirect	She says that they love and respect their neighbors very much.
Direct	She has said, “she is ready to accompany us to Karachi.”
Indirect	She has said that she is ready to accompany them to Karachi.
Direct	He says, “I have not heard the latest news about her.”
Indirect	He says that he has not heard the latest news about her.
Direct	The doctor says, “the patient is still in a state of coma.”
Indirect	The doctor says that the patient is still in a state of coma.
Direct	The teacher says, “she has always been a good student.”
Indirect	The teacher says that she has always been a good student.
Direct	She will say, “he did not come up to my expectations.”
Indirect	She will say that he did not come up to her expectations.
Direct	He said to me, “He does his duty.”
Indirect	He told me that he did his duty.

List 10

Direct	He says, “I am going to college.”
Indirect	He says that he is going to college.
Direct	He said to me, “you are not a man of your word.”
Indirect	He told me that I was not a man of my word.
Direct	Ali said, “He will come and meet you.”
Indirect	Ali said that he would come and meet me.
Direct	He said to me, “ I shall visit you soon.”
Indirect	He told me that he would visit me soon.
Direct	He said, “it was raining.”
Indirect	He said that it had been raining.
Direct	He said, ‘My friend left for Lahore.”
Indirect	He said that his friend had left for Lahore.
Direct	He says, “my father is an engineer.”
Indirect	He says that his father is an engineer.
Direct	She says, “I am working hard.”
Indirect	She says that she is working hard.
Direct	He says, “I go to school regularly.”
Indirect	He says that he goes to school regularly.
Direct	she said, “I am doing my home task now.”
Indirect	she said that she was doing her home task then.

List 11

Direct	He said, “I am not a thief.”
Indirect	He said he was not a thief.
Direct	she said, “I am working hard.”
Indirect	she said that she was working hard.
Direct	He said, “I have returned the book.”
Indirect	He said that he had returned the book
Direct	she said, “The patient died in the hospital.”
Indirect	she said that the patient had died in the hospital.
Direct	He said, “she will go there.”
Indirect	He said that she would go there.
Direct	she said, “I do not agree with you.”
Indirect	she said that she did not agree with me.
Direct	He said to the stranger, “I do not recognize you”
Indirect	He told the stranger that he did not recognize him.
Direct	The teacher said to Romeo, “I have taught you and your sister.”
Indirect	The teacher told Romeo that he had taught him and his sister.
Direct	She said to me, “you are a lazy boy.”
Indirect	she told me that I was a lazy boy.